The Associated PressDjokovic, a former Italian Open champion, is a better claycourt player than he gets credit for.The arrival of the European claycourt season has brought the re-establishment of the status quo on the men's tour. Ivan Ljubicic and Andy Roddick, champions of Indian Wells and Miami, respectively, are now nowhere to be seen. And Juan Carlos Ferrero, two-time winner during the ATP's South American tour, just met a brick wall in Monte Carlo.
The Associated PressRafa: stronger by the day.Today, No. 2 seed Rafael Nadal disposed of Ferrero and No. 1 seed Novak Djokovic ran over David Nalbandian to reach the Monte Carlo semifinals. Rafa, looking for his sixth straight win in Monaco, is intent on putting the fear of God back into his opponents every time he takes the court. Djokovic, meanwhile, wants to prove that he deserves his ranking (No. 2 in the world) and really, truly is a Grand Slam contender. As the two men head for a collision in the final, they're both looking fit and confident.

Waiting in the wings, of course, is defending French Open champion Roger Federer, who returns to the scene in Rome two weeks hence. The run-up to Roland Garros is about to get very interesting.